Reloading for The anticipated CAMPRO 180gr .311" Full Copper Plated Bullet

[bearhunter]

RC, now you're asking for guarantees. You should know better, with all the water under your bridge.

Call them and ask about the composition of their jacket gilding material.

They won't foul any worse than monolithic bullet composites, and they certainly won't foul as bad as some of the cupro nickel bullets that were used in the past. It may be a bit of a learning curve, but with personal experience using the .308 diameter gilded bullets, fouling wasn't an issue, any more than any other jacketed bullet.

 

[Lee Enfield]

This confirms the research that I have done as well. I understand there is a velocity barrier for all bullets but most thresholds are substantially lower for copper plated bullets. I'm asking if .012" of plating is enough protection to avoid a compounding lead fouling problem at jacketed velocities. I'm researching powders to pop that pill between 2300 and 2375 fps as possibly being the limits but would like to try and test that barrier (carefully). IMR-3031 sounds like a good powder choice to me as well and have a bit left over.

if these bullets can't duplicate mk7z max velocity of 2480 fps there is no point to them

 

[bearhunter]

You don't know, until you try them.

Most of the shooters I know don't like to load that hot, so like them, it's just "your opinion."

I was once in the same frame of mind as you, but as my body ages, lighter loads are just fine.

This is off topic, sorry RC, but last year I picked up a GEW 98, chambered for the 303 Brit. It shot OK, but the micro adjustable rear micrometer sight, along with the narrow permanent barley core front sight, made it impossible for me to shoot it well.

The bore was badly pitted, and it would shoot a couple of rounds into less than 3 inches, but that was the best it would do, no matter who was shooting it.

I decided I wanted "something that would shoot better, so I pulled the barrel, which measured .314. It's now going to be used for bedding pillars.

I had another receiver, already D&Ted for scope mounts. It's a Peruvian 98, still in the white, but it has some staining.

I had an "unknown" barrel sitting on the shelf, and this looked like a great opportunity to put it to some good use. It measures .3085.

I borrowed a chamber reamer, which I "loaned" to a fellow a few years ago. It's still very sharp and on minimum spec.

Just to keep things "authentic" the bolt handle needs to be turned down to clear the scope I want to mount, so Instead of heating it to bend, I cut it off and left a 3/16 base to weld a new handle to. The handle is from a No5 Lee Enfield bolt that was in a fire.

It's going to be upside down, so it will look sportier, and clear the stock. IMHO, it will be appropriate for the project, and part of the old No5 can still go on being useful.

The flash hider/bayo lug was also repurposed on another No5, so some of it still sees the light of day in a useful manner.

I'm likely going to order a few hundred of the Campro bullets, just to see how well they do in a "tight" bore. Sometimes, there can be pleasant surprises.

I had a Long Branch with a .309 bore, and it shot very well with all bullet diameters from .308-.315, without excessive pressure signs on the case.

To bad a previous owner cut off the barrel to remove the bayo locking lugs.